Førdekonferansen 2025 - Language at stake

THURSDAY, JULY 3, 9:30 AM-3:30 PM

AMFI EIKAAS, SCANDIC SUNNFJORD HOTEL & SPA

The Cultural Conference in Førde brings together artists, academics and language enthusiasts to explore the power and possibilities of language. With voices from Norway and abroad, we raise our gaze and look at how language can be a cultural pillar and a bridge between people. 

REGISTRATION

Language is more than just words – it is identity, history and creativity. On Førdekonferansen In 2025, we will shine a spotlight on language in games; in art, in culture and in the way we express ourselves in a rapidly changing world. How does language affect history, culture and our shared understanding? How is language used to create identity, but also to exercise power? What happens to language when it goes from paper to screen? How do theatre, music and literature shape our language – and vice versa? 

PROGRAM

  • Janne Stigen Drangsholt

    PROGRAM DIRECTOR

    Professor of English literature at the University of Stavanger and a successful author, best known for the novels about Ingrid Winter.

  • Grethe Fatima Syed

    LITERATURE SCIENCE

    Associate Professor at the Department of Language, Literature, Mathematics and Interpreting at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.

  • Marit Paasche

    ART HISTORIAN, CURATOR AND ART CRITIC

    Has written several books about art and film. Won the Critics' Award for the book Hanna Ryggen in 2017. Currently working on the book Søvn og lykke.

  • Anna Kleiva

    AUTHOR AND TRANSLATOR

    She debuted with the poetry collection Ti bildningar versjonar in 2011. Kleiva is one of the contributors to the book "Tunga mi protesterer mot døden".

  • Ingrid Z. Aanestad

    AUTHORS AND TEACHERS

    Known as a discerning and uncompromising writer, she made her debut at the age of 22 with the novel Today is a Beautiful Day and is one of the contributors to the book My Tongue Protests Death.

  • Sivert Nesbo

    AUTHORS AND ACADEMICIANS

    at the Norwegian Academy of Writing. He made his debut in 2013 with the novel Skårgangar, and has since published several critically acclaimed novels. The Førdian writer received the Målprisen from Førde target team in 2022.

  • Kirsti Lunde

    SCHOLARSHIP AT THE VESTLAND COLLEGE OF COLLEGE

    Researcher on the establishment and negotiation of writing norms in young people's writing practices.

  • Solrun Toft Iversen

    THEATRE DIRECTOR AT THE NATIONAL SCENE IN BERGEN

    Formerly theatre director at the West Norwegian Theatre, and has been acting theatre director at Sogn og Fjordane Theatre. Iversen is a trained dramaturg and has dramatised, directed and written scripts for a number of performances in both Norway and Denmark.

  • Manu Theron

    MUSICIAN AND WRITER

    And program director at the Cité de la Musique in Marseille. Throughout her professional career, Theron has studied how to preserve cultural and social practices linked to language issues through song.

  • Duo Lavoà Lapò

    FRENCH DUO

    Preserve the Occitan language and music in the South of France.

  • Kjersti Haland

    AUTHOR, SCRIPTWRITER, WRITER AND POET

    She has been the theatre director at the student theatre Teater Neuf in Oslo, has published several poetry collections and novels, and has been the scriptwriter for, among other things, the TV series Lovleg . She received the Målprisen for this series in 2019.

  • Camilla Granlien

    FOLK SONGS, SONGWRITERS AND MUSICIANS

    Has a master's degree in traditional art from the University of Southeast Norway and has studied the song tradition from Gudbrandsdalen and Hedmark. 

Førdekonferansen is supported by Fritt Ord and the Arts Council of Norway, and is a collaboration between Førdefestivalen , Sunnfjord Municipality, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and Vestland County Municipality. Tekstallianse is a partner in the program item 'Words about genocide'.